Key holder



Aug-:4, 1925. 1,548,287 H. c. SHARP KEY HOLDER Filed April. 12, 1924 ternal construction.

Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

HER-BERT CRAWFORD SHABP, OF KINGSTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

KEY HOLDER.

Application filed April 12, 1924. Serial No. 706,037.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT Cnawronn SHARP, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Kingston, in the county of Frontenac, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key Holders, of which the forming part of this specification.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my device closed, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a view similar to 1, except that certain parts are broken away to show in- This View also illustrates a key. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section on the line 4 t, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device showing portion of the wings which are in open position. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section on the line 6 6, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, and Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of certain internal parts.

In the drawings, like characters of reference refer to the same parts.

Obviously the shape or design of the device in question can be varied within a wide range, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it will be understood that the device will be made of metal of light gauge so as to reduce weight, and the finish thereof may be as desired.

2 is a casing having an open end 3, and mounted within this casing is a frame t which is adapted to hold the key and house the head.

The ears 5 of the frame 4- are located to partly close the open end 3 of the casing 2, and the same arepreferably longitudinally slotted as shown at 6, and passing through each of these slots is the shank of a screw 7. The shan rs of these screws shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 screw into threaded holes (not shown) in the jaw members 8, and by loosening said screws the space separating the inner ends of said jaw members can be regulated to accommodate the width of the key at the portion 9. T he ears 5 are spaced apart as very clearly shown in Fig. 8, and it is through the space 10 separating said ears that the shank of the key passes, and it will be understood that the inner ends of the jaw members 8 must project beyond the inner ends of the ears 5, to allow for a wide range of adjustment to accommodate different keys.

In Fig. 5 it is shown clearly that the inner ends of the jaw members 8 are shaped so as 'to more or less embrace the sides of the portion 9 of the key.

11 is the movable side of the frame 4, and the same is hinged in any manner as shown at 12 to the inner end of said frame, and it will be understood of course that before'the frame 4 is passed into the casing 2 through the open end 3 thereof, the key mus be mounted within said frame 4.

Formed in the fixed side of the frame 4t is an opening 13 in which operates a cross bar 1%, and coupled to each end of this cross bar is a guide plate 15. These guide plates operate against the inner surface of the fixed side of the frame f, and against the side flanges 16 of this plate. All keys adapted to be used in this device, must have an opening in the head thereof, and by means of this opening the head of the key is passed over a stud 17 carried by the bar 14:. In different makes of keys, the distance between the hole in the head of the key and the portion 9 held between the members 8, varies, and since the jaw members 8 are not adjustable longitudinally of the casing 2 to provide for said variations, the bar 14. must be made longitudinally adjustable within said casing. Having once positioned the key within the frame 4, the side 11 is closed and the frame t inserted. Of course any means may be'used to lock the frame l within the casing 2, and such means may conveniently be in the form of a spur 18 stamped from each of the sides 19 ofthe casing in such manner that when the frame 4 is pushed home, the spurs 18 will spring into the openings 20 formed in the side flanges 16 of the frame 1-. This means just described is known in various arts.

The means I have just described houses the head of the key and permits the shank to extend far enough outside of the casing 2 to be used. Now when it is not desired to use the key, I prefer to provide housing means for the exposed portion of the shank of said key, though it must be understood that I can omit said housing means if de sired.

The housing means in question comprises complementary members 21, the housing ends of which are substantially U-shaped in cross section, as shown by dotted lines at 22 in Fig. 1. The inner ends 23 of said housing members are spaced apart and straddle the casing 2, and are pivotally associated therewith in such manner that when these members are fully opened, the shank of the key will be completely exposed for use. When closed, the inner edges of these members will contact, and any suitable fastening means to keep them closed will be employed, such as a wellknown form of spring catch 24.

I prefer to pivotally associate the complementary members 21 with the casing 2, by forming bosses 25 on the inner sides of the inner ends 23, which bosses operate in holes 26 formed in the sides 27 of the casing 2.

If desired, the inner surface of the inner ends 23 of the members 21 may be provided with bosses 28 or equivalent means to space the said inner ends apart from the sides 27 to prevent wear between these parts. These bosses 28, if used, will be very slight, and in order to illustrate them the greatly enlarged view Fig. 6 was made.

The inner ends 23 of the members 21 will be so shaped as to exert pressure or pinch slightly the sides 27 so as to retain the bosses 25 in the holes 26.

Different makes of keys vary in thickness, and in order to prevent rattling of the key within the device any convenient means may be employed: a convenient means for this purpose consists in stamping a tongue a from the movable side 11, and as this tongue will be elastic it will press down against the key.

lVhile I have described what- I consider to be the best embodiment within my invention, it must be understood that the principle thereof may be embodied in many different forms, and I desire not to be limited beyond the requirements of the prior art and the terms of my claims.

hat I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a casing open at one end; a frame mounted within said casing provided at its outer end with a space through which the shank of the key extends; means associated with said frame adapted to lock said key against Withdrawal, and separable means pivotally associated with said casing. and adapted to house the exposed portion of the shank of the key when not used.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing open at one end; a frame mounted within said casing provided at its outer end with a space through which the shank of the key extends; means associated with said frame adapted to lock said key against withdrawal, and means associated with said frame and adapted to press against said key to prevent rattling thereof.

3. A device of the class described comprising a casing open at one end; a frame mounted within said casing provided at its outer end with a pair of cars spaced apart to form an opening through which the shank of the key extends; a jaw member adjustably associated with each of the said ears and adapted to embrace portion of the shank of said key adjacent the head thereof, and a locking bar adjustably mounted within said frame and adapted to enter the hole in the head of said key.

4. A device of the class described comprising a casing open at one end; a frame mounted within said casing provided at its outer end with a pair of ears spaced apartto form an opening through which the shank of the key extends; a jaw member adjustably associated with each of the said ears and adapted to embrace portion of the shank I of said key adjacent the head thereof; a studprovided bar operating in an opening formed in one side of said frame, the said stud adapted to enter the hole in the head of the key; a guide plate associated with each end of said bar and having movement within said frame, and a movable side for said frame pivotally associated with the inner end thereof. a

5. A device of the class described comprising a casing open at one end; a frame mounted within said casing provided at its outer end with a pair of ears spaced apart to form an opening through which the shank of the key extends; a jaw member adjustably associated with each of the said ears and adapted to embrace portion of the shank of said key adjacent the head thereof; a stud-provided bar operating in an openin formed in one side of said frame, the said stud adapted to enter the hole in the head of the key; a guide plate associated with 7 each end of said bar and having movement within said frame; a movable side for said frame pivotally associated with the inner end thereof, and a resilient pressure member stamped from said movable side and adapted to press against the head of the key.

6. In combination a casing adapted to house the head of a key and to permit the shank to project therebeyond, and separable means pivotally associated with said casing and adapted to house the exposed portion of the shank of the key when not used.

HERBERT CRAWFORD SHARP. 

